JO:

Get the hooves well, Nat. She has a way of collecting a lot of stone and dirt.

NAT:

Yup.

NAT:

Mrs. Jo? Think I could ride her one day?

JO:

Of course you can, Nat. I was about your age when I learned to ride her. She’s got a lot of spirit. [Takes the reins] But she’s also very gentle. [To Penny] Aren’t you, Penny. Hm? Aren’t you? Yes, that’s right.

JO:

[To Dan.] What’s going on?

DAN:

Got some books for our library.

JO:

We don’t have a library.

NICK:

[Lifts a crate.] We do now.

BOY:

[Reads.] "Call me . . ."

FRANZ:

"Ishmael."

FRANZ:

Isn’t this great, Aunt Jo? . . . Shakespeare, Milton, history books.

JO:

[Jo eyes the books in puzzled awe.] Well, it’s wonderful, but where did they all come from?

BESS:

[Laughs softly.] My father gave them to us.

JO:

[Reads] "Dear Jo, during my last visit to Plumfield I took notice of the fact that your school’s library, or lack thereof could use some augmenting, so please accept these books as a gift to the Plumfield school for the further enrichment and enlightenment of its outstanding students."

FRANZ:

[To Bess.] Your father’s quite a philanthropist.

NAN:

What’s a "philanthropist"?

FRANZ:

Well, there’s a dictionary, Nan. Why don’t you look it up?

JO:

Laurie has been so good to this school.

FRANZ:

There must be over two hundred books here.

DAN:

[As Nick enters.] Well, if you ask me, I think we already had enough books.

JO:

[To Dan.] You can never have too many books, Dan.

NAN:

[Scans the dictionary.] Oh, here it is: "Someone who shows a deep concern for mankind, especially as shown by acts of benevolence. [Turns to Franz.] Benevolence?

FRANZ:

[Shrugs.] It’s in there.

NAN:

[With an exasperated sigh.] Franz.

JO:

[Brightly.] I think this is the finest gift we’ve ever received.

NICK:

Well, we better get started buildin’ some new bookshelves. [Dan smiles at him.]

ISAAC:

Nick—Coyote got in the paddock. Spooked Penny!

NAT:

[With hands raised.] Please, Penny, calm down!

JO:

Penny!

EMIL:

A coyote was seen by the chicken coop!

JO:

Calm down, Penny.

EMIL:

I scared it away, but it ran through the corral!

NAT:

Penny!

NICK:

Nat, look out!

JO:

[From outside of the corral.] Penny! Whoa! . . . Penny!

NAT:

No, Penny, please!

JO:

Penny!

NAT:

No, Penny—no!

JO:

[Shouts.] Penny!

EMIL:

Penny, come back!

DAN:

[Climbs over corral fence.] Hey, Nat. You all right?

NICK:

I’ll saddle up and go after her.

JO:

I’m going with you.

JO:

Where could she have gone?

NICK:

Ah—It’s gonna be dark soon. We should start headin’ back. [Jo looks worriedly at Nick.] Penny knows the way home. She’ll probably make her own way back.

JO:

[Sighs.] Well, she did the last few times she got lost, so . . .

NICK:

Well, there you go. Probably already there waitin’ for us.

NICK:

Let’s go. Come on.

NICK:

Still no sign of her. [Removes his gloves.]

JO:

It’s pretty cold out tonight.

NICK:

She’s a tough horse, Jo. She’ll be all right.

JO:

[Nods.] That she is. She’s been through quite a few scrapes.

NICK:

You’ve had her a long time.

JO:

Found her when I was twelve.

NICK:

Found ‘er?

JO:

[Nods.] She was stuck in a bog. It was so deep I didn’t think we’d ever get her out. She was just a little thing, a yearling. . . . There we were—Meg, Beth, and myself—pushing, tugging, getting absolutely filthy while little Amy stood on dry ground laughing about the whole mess. [Laughs.]

JO:

[Sighs] But we finally got her out. We searched all over Concord for her owner but no one claimed her . . . so my father said that I could keep her. I brought her home and I . . . washed her coat and brushed her down, and she was the most brilliant color copper I had ever seen. [Beat.] Just like a brand new penny.

NICK:

I’ll go back out at first light . . . Keep lookin’.

JO:

Thank you.

EMIL:

Hey Bess, I’ve got a book for you. [He throws the book to Bess.]

BESS:

[Looks at the cover] "Frankenstein." Very funny, Emil. [She throws the book back to him.]

FRANZ:

All right, I think we should all send Mr. Laurence a note of thanks for his wonderful books.

NAT:

Okay, sure.

OTHERS:

Yeah.

NAN:

Good idea.

FRANZ:

I just thought of the perfect assignment to give you. [They look at him curiously.] Philanthropy. Nan looked it up. It means having a love of mankind demonstrated by acts of benevolence—kindness. For your next assignment I’d like each one of you to perform an act of benevolence and then give a speech to the class about it.

NAN:

[Laughs.] You mean do something nice for someone?

FRANZ:

That’s right. Be thoughtful, be creative. Most of all, be generous. And afterwards, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good it’ll make you feel.

DAN:

This is a stupid assignment.

NAT:

You know, I kinda like it.

EMIL:

Yeah, you would.

ISAAC:

What do we have to do? Give a present to someone?

NAN:

No, Isaac. You don’t necessarily have to give a gift to anyone. You just have to do something nice.

BESS:

I’m planning on giving a vocal recital. I’m going to sing a Schubert lieder for everyone.

DAN:

It’s benevolence, Bess, not torture. [Dan walks out the door past them.]

TOMMY:

Hey, Nan, maybe I’ll give you my jackknife, you give me your pet mouse.

BESS:

You have a pet mouse?

NAT:

It’s not about trading things, Tommy. It’s like Franz said, you know: kindness and generosity?

EMIL:

I have an idea. Let’s make this more interesting. The person who does the nicest thing—the others do his, or her, chores for the next week.

NAN:

[Smiles.] That’s a great idea.

NAT:

I don’t know.

BESS:

Wait a minute. Who’s going to judge this little contest of yours?

EMIL:

Well, Franz is gonna grade the papers, so . . . the highest grade wins.

NAN:

Sounds good to me.

TOMMY:

Me too.

BESS:

[Looks up at the ceiling.] I suppose so.

NAT:

Why not.

JO:

Dan. [Dan looks up.] Have you seen Nick?

DAN:

I, uh, think he’s still out lookin’ for Penny. . . . He’s gonna find her, Mrs. Jo. I know he will.

JO:

[Smiles.] I see you’ve already started on the bookshelf.

DAN:

Yeah. . . . I figured I’d get a jump on it.

JO:

Well have you found any books that interest you, yet?

DAN:

[Looks down at the books.] Uh . . . nah. . . . Not really. I’m . . . not much of a reader.

JO:

Well, I’ll bet I could find a book that would interest you.

DAN:

Ah, prob’ly could, but you know me. I’d rather be outside doin’ stuff ‘stead of sittin’ inside readin’ a book.

JO:

[Nodding.] Well, I can understand that. I mean, there are a lot of wonderful things to experience out there.

DAN:

Yeah.

JO:

But I find that when I read a book, it opens my eyes to things that I may not have noticed before. [She looks out a window.] That makes me appreciate the world outside my window even more.

JO:

It’s Penny.

JO:

[To Nick.] You found her! Where was she?

NICK:

You’re not gonna believe this. . . . She was stuck in the mud, just past Walden Pond.

JO:

[Laughs. To Penny.] You’re always getting yourself into trouble, aren’t you, Penny? [Rubs Penny's nose]

DAN:

Hey, Nick. What happened to her legs?

NICK:

Ah . . . must’ve banged ’em when she was runnin’ off. [Dan nods.] I’ll clean and wrap ’em. Keep an eye on ’em, make sure they don’t get infected.

JO:

I’ll help you.

NICK:

But, aside from being cold and exhausted, I think she’s all right. . . .

JO:

Thank you, Nick.

JO:

Hello, Tommy.

TOMMY:

Hey, Mrs. Jo. I made you some tea. [The cup clatters on its saucer as Tommy approaches slowly.]

JO:

You made me some tea?

TOMMY:

Yeah, although Asia helped me clean up the first cup after I spilled it.

JO:

Oh. I see. [She takes the cup.] Thank you.

TOMMY:

Prob’ly got a little cold walkin’ over here from the house. I went real slow.

JO:

You did? Good.

TOMMY:

And I put some sugar in it, too.

JO:

Oh! Well, that was nice of you Tommy. [She takes a sip.]

TOMMY:

Yeah, that’s real generous, ain’t it?

JO:

Yes. Yes it is.

TOMMY:

Well, guess I’ll go now.

JO:

All right. Good night, sweetheart.

TOMMY:

’Night, Mrs. Jo.

NICK:

All right. That oughtta do it for tonight.

EMIL:

Should I bring some fresh hay down from the loft?

NICK:

Nah, she’s got enough.

EMIL:

Well is there anything else I could do for ya?

NICK:

[Secures Penny’s stall door shut.] Nope. That’s it.

EMIL:

Well are you hungry? . . . I could make ya something’ to eat.

NICK:

Ah . . . No, Emil. [Laughs.] I’m fine, thanks.

JO:

How is she?

NICK:

Glad to be in a warm barn, you can be sure o’ that.

DAN:

[To Jo.] Ah, she’ll be back to normal in no time.

JO:

[Nods, then holds up the book.] I found it.

DAN:

What?

JO:

That book I’d thought you’d like: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. [She hands it to him.] It was published last year. It’s very popular. [Turns to Nick.] Nick, have you heard of it?

NICK:

No.

EMIL:

I have. Friend of my uncle’s read it. It’s about this submarine that goes around attacking ships.

DAN:

A what?

EMIL:

A submarine. . . . It’s like a boat that goes underwater. [Nick looks over.] It even gets attacked by a sea monster.

DAN:

[Smiles.] A sea monster?

JO:

It’s quite a story, Dan. Full of adventure.

EMIL:

Can I read it, too?

JO:

Of course, Emil! [She turns to Nick.] Nick—maybe you’d like to read it as well. I’m sure a good sea story would interest you.

NICK:

Ah, I wish I could, but I can’t. [He dries his hands on a towel.]

JO:

Come on, Nick. I'm sure you can spare some time in the evening to read with the boys.

NICK:

Nah, that’s not what I’m talkin’ about. When I say I can’t, I mean I can’t read.

EMIL:

You can’t read?

NICK:

[Shakes his head.] Nope.

DAN:

Not at all?

NICK:

Not a lick.

EMIL:

Well, then, how do you write your name?

NICK:

I don’t.

NICK:

Guys, come on! I grew up on a farm, went to sea when I was fifteen. Schoolin’ just wasn’t a part of my life. [He gets his coat.]

JO:

Well, now that you’re working at a school maybe you can make it part of your life and—learn how to read now.

NICK:

[Puts his coat on.] No, thanks. Never had a need for it growin’ up, don’t really see a need for it now.

ISAAC:

He can’t read at all?

EMIL:

Not a word. He can’t even write his own name.

NAT:

Mrs. Jo, did you know Nick can’t read?

JO:

Yes, I did.

BESS:

Well I can’t imagine going through life being unable to read.

EMIL:

I know. Think about it, walking down the street, can’t even read the signs? [Dan looks a little disgusted/uncomfortable with the conversation.] Wonder how he gets around?

BOY:

Yeah. Must be hard.

NICK:

Somethin’ wrong?

DAN:

No. Nothin’s wrong, Nick.

JO:

I think we all need to remember how fortunate we are. For some people growing up, education is not an option.

DAN:

She’s right. People like Nick had it pretty tough their whole life. Growin’ up poor . . . losing their folks when they were just kids. Had to do everything on his own. If you ask me, he’s done a pretty good job of it. Been around the world . . . seen places that most of you only read about in some stupid book. [He sighs and leaves.]

NAN:

Who wants breakfast? [She sets the pot on the table.] I made porridge for everyone. It’s my gift to you.

JO:

[To Penny.] Hi, girl. [To Nick] She looks good.

NICK:

Her cuts are healing nicely. Don’t think we’ll have to worry about infection.

JO:

Good. [Nick stands up.]

NICK:

But she’s still shiverin’. Have to keep her covered and make sure she’s out of the draft.

JO:

And keep her out of the mud.

JO:

About the children, earlier.

NICK:

I know what they were talkin’ about. I heard ’em.

JO:

They didn’t mean any harm by it.

NICK:

No big deal.

JO:

Listen, Nick. Have you ever given any thought to learning how to read?

NICK:

Why?

JO:

Why? Because reading is such a valuable tool in life. It’s an essential tool!

NICK:

Can’t be that essential. I haven’t needed it.

JO:

Well, maybe not, but your life could be that much better with it. Nick, reading provides us with the means to reach beyond ourselves and our circumstances, therefore giving us new opportunities to—

NICK:

I’ve had plenty opportunities in my life.

JO:

You don’t understand.

NICK:

No. I don’t. I don’t know why you gotta go makin’ somethin’ outta this when I already told you: it’s no big deal.

JO:

But I promise you, if you learn how to read, you will be thrilled with the new world that opens up to you. [Nick stops and looks at her.] Your life will be the richer for it.

NICK:

So, what, I gotta sit up in the classroom with the kids?

JO:

No, I’ll give you private lessons. No one else has to know unless you want them to.

JO:

Nick, you don’t seem like the type of person that would turn his back on a challenge. . . . Who knows, this could be your next big adventure.

NICK:

[Looks away, then finally answers.] Ah! If it means that much to you . . .

JO:

[Laughs.] All right, then. [To Penny.] Bye, sweet thing.

FRANZ:

[To children.] All right, class, we’ll begin this morning with arithmetic. [He has a paper in his hands.] Please take out your pencils and your paper and copy down these problems.

EMIL:

[To Nat.] So, have you done anything generous yet?

NAT:

I’m still trying to think of what to do.

TOMMY:

I made Mrs. Jo some tea.

EMIL:

So. That’s easy.

NAN:

[A little louder.] Hey, what about my porridge? I worked all morning on it.

EMIL:

And I almost choked. That stuff was awful!

BESS:

[Leans over.] Well, what have you done?

NAN:

Yeah?

EMIL:

I helped Nick with Penny.

NAT:

You would’ve done that, anyway.

NAN:

He’s right, Emil. You’ve gotta think of somethin’ better that that.

EMIL:

And you’re gonna have to do better than that porridge.

FRANZ:

Excuse me. You have problems to copy down.

NICK:

So—teach me. [He hands a book to Jo.]

JO:

Oh, Nick, you can’t start off with this. [She puts the book down.] It’s much too difficult. [She points to a chart behind her.] We’ll start with this chart to learn the alphabet, and then we’ll move on to this reading primer to learn small words and sentence construction. [Hands him the primer.]

JO:

It’ll be fun. You’ll see. . . . Okay, this is an ‘A’. [She points to the chart.]

NICK:

[Points to the cover of the primer.] What’s that say?

JO:

‘The Pretty Kitty".

JO:

[Reads.] "The pretty kitty is soft." [Nick turns another page.] "The pretty kitty likes to play."

JO:

[Points out the words.] "I love the pretty kitty."

NICK:

I don’t think this is gonna work.

JO:

[Rises with him.] Nick, come on. You have to start out simple.

NICK:

[Unimpressed.] "The Pretty Kitty"?

JO:

I’m sorry! It was designed for young children. Look, we won’t use the primer. How’s that?

JO:

No, please . . . just sit back down, sit back down.

JO:

[Sits.] All right, watch this. [She takes chalk and a slate and writes on it. NICK watches uninterestedly.] This is an "N" . . . as in . . . "navigate". Okay? [She writes another letter.] This is an "I" . . . "iceberg". [NICK still looks indifferent.] "C" . . . uh, "cannon". . . . And this last on is a "K", as in "kettle". . . "kitty".

JO:

No, but look, look! When you put these letters together, that spells "Nick".

NICK:

"N". Nick.

JO:

[Smiles and sighs, putting her hand on his knee] That’s your first word.

DAN:

Mrs. Jo? I just went to check on Penny, and she sounds strange. She’s coughin’ and wheezin’.

NICK:

[Gets up.] I’d better ride for the vet.

DR. CASSIDY:

The lungs are filling. . . . This animal has pneumonia. Exposure to the cold air outside overnight is no doubt what brought it on. It can present itself very quickly. . . . What’s critical now is to make certain the horse is well cared for, which will require your assistance.

JO:

Anything, Doctor.

DR. CASSIDY:

You’ll need to mix up several doses of sweet spirit of nitre. [He retrieves a bottle from his bag.] Mix half an ounce of this and a pint of cold water and feed it to the horse three times a day - morning, noon, and night - until the animal seems stronger. You’ll also need to thoroughly rub down the legs.

DAN:

Rub down the legs?

DR. CASSIDY:

Rubbing increases the circulation. . . . You should also apply a mustard plaster over the lungs. If the horse responds to the treatment, the disease should run its course anywhere from nine to twelve days. Keep the animal warm and away from any drafts. You don’t want this developing into pleurisy.

DAN:

What's that?

DR. CASSIDY:

A much more serious condition. Let me know if anything changes.

NICK:

We will.

JO:

Thank you, Dr. Cassidy.

NICK:

Ya still up?

JO:

[Nods slightly.] Couldn’t sleep.

NICK:

[Glances at PENNY] How’s she doin’?

JO:

Well I just reapplied the mustard plaster but her breathing is still rough.

NICK:

Ya should try to get some sleep.

JO:

It’s okay. I don’t mind being out here. [Smiles.] It reminds me of the first night I brought her home. I spent the whole night in the barn carving her name in the wood above her stall. . . . Ended up falling asleep in the hay.

NICK:

She’s worse. I’ll get the vet.

DR. CASSIDY:

It’s pleurisy. I’m afraid there’s nothing to be done.

DR. CASSIDY:

The horse should be put down. It’s the only humane thing to do. If you like, I can take the animal, and we’ll—

JO:

[Sharply.] No. [Tears form in her eyes.] We’ll do it.

DR. CASSIDY:

[As he’s leaves.] Terribly sorry.

JO:

[To Penny.] My sweet baby. You’re always getting yourself into trouble, aren’t you? [Jo, weeping, kisses Penny’s nose.] You’ve been such a good friend to me! I’ll miss you so much.

JO:

[Sniffing.] Goodbye, girl.

JO:

Take her before the children wake.

NAT:

Nick, what happened?

DAN:

Went to check on Penny. She was gone.

NICK:

She got worse overnight. Nothing could be done. [Nick looks over at Jo who is standing sadly on the front porch. To Nat and Dan.] Sorry, boys.

NAT:

Mrs. Jo, we just want you to know that we're really sorry about Penny.

NAN:

If there's anything we can do for you, just let us know.

JO:

Thank you. All of you. Penny was very dear to me and I'll miss her very much, but I think the best thing for me is to try to get things back to normal.

JO:

How’s the supply in the loft?

NICK:

Ah . . . we could use more, as usual. I’ll try to get into town later and get some. [Nick stops pitching hay. Snow is lightly falling.]

JO:

I was hoping that maybe later this afternoon we could do another reading lesson.

NICK:

Ah. . . . Today’s not a good day. Got a lotta stuff to do.

JO:

All right, then, maybe tomorrow.

NICK:

Sure.

JO:

Okay. After breakfast?

NICK:

[Nods.] All right. [Nick goes back to pitching hay, and Jo leaves.]

DAN:

She teachin’ you to read?

NICK:

Yup. Figure it’s time for me to . . . find out what all the fuss is about.

DAN:

[Picks up another pitchfork and starts to toss the hay from the ground into a wheelbarrow.] Yeah, well . . . you’re not missing’ much, believe me. Seems like the more words you learn, the more confusin’ it gets. An’ some of it just doesn’t make any sense. Like, um . . . the "K" in "knife".

NICK:

"K"?

DAN:

Yeah, usually it has a hard sound like in, um . . . "kid" or "kite".

NICK:

Or "kitty".

DAN:

[Pauses.] Right. . . . So, anyway, the "k" in "knife" is silent.

NICK:

Silent.

DAN:

Yeah, you don’t pronounce it. It’s like it’s not even there, but you better make sure you put it there when you spell it.

NICK:

[Shakes his head.] Doesn’t make any sense.

DAN:

Ex-actly. [He puts down the pitchfork.]

NAT:

So what are you so worried about?

EMIL:

The assignment’s due the day after tomorrow. I want to make sure my generous act is the best.

TOMMY:

Nan’s goin’ into town tomorrow. Said there’s lots of generous things to do there.

EMIL:

Hmm . . . maybe I’ll go into town, too.

NAT:

What’re you gonna do? [Dan looks up.]

EMIL:

I don’t know. I’ll think of something . . . but it’ll definitely be more generous than anything Nan could come up with.

ISAAC:

Gonna go to town, Nat?

NICK:

[A bit angry.] Dan, what’re you doin’ here?

DAN:

Uh . . . [He stops and looks to stall where a horse is.] Penny? . . . Penny!

NICK:

[Takes Dan’s arm.] Easy. She’s still real sick.

DAN:

[Looks at Nick in confusion.] But I—

NICK:

I was gonna. Then I got to thinkin’ maybe the vet was givin’ up on her too quick. . . . An’ I know how much she means to Mrs. Jo. [Nick rubs Penny's muzzle.]

DAN:

What’re you gonna do?

NICK:

Got permission from the farmer here to leave her in the stable for the time being. . . . Worked with some army vets in the war. Saw horses with conditions like this come back from the brink of death. . . . Penny’s tough. Figured she might come back, too.

DAN:

Mrs. Jo’s gonna be so happy.

NICK:

No. You don’t tell Mrs. Jo nothin’. Still a very strong chance this horse won’t survive. I don’t want Mrs. Jo gettin’ her hopes up.

DAN:

[Nods.] Yeah. I’ll keep quiet. . . . Can I help ya, Nick?

NICK:

Sure. Rub down her legs while I mix the medicine.

DAN:

Right.

WOMAN 1:

Oh, thank you so kindly. Will you allow me to give . . . [She gets out her purse.]

EMIL:

Oh, I couldn’t take that, ma’am.

WOMAN:

Are you sure?

EMIL:

It was my pleasure.

WOMAN 1:

Oh, thank you.

TOMMY:

May I help you, ma’am?

WOMAN 2:

Why, thank you, young man!

TOMMY:

[Takes the box.] Can I assist you to your buggy?

NAN:

Wait a minute. I was gonna help her.

TOMMY:

[Fights with Nan for possession of the box.] I got here first!

NAN:

Gimme that box!

TOMMY:

No, she gave it to me. [To woman 2.] Didn’t you?

LADY:

Well, yes, actually . . .

TOMMY:

No fair, Nan. Get your own lady!

NAN:

I saw her first.

TOMMY:

I got to her first.

WOMAN 2:

Thank you, young man.

NAN:

Hey! [She marches over with Tommy behind her.] You can’t do this, Emil.

EMIL:

I got her fair and square.

TOMMY:

No, you didn’t. She’s mine.

EMIL:

Gimme that. [He begins tugging on the box. Then, in one swift movement, the box is flung into the street, and all the contents—eggs, etc.—are ruined.]

WOMAN 2:

My groceries!

NAN:

Look out!

DAN:

I’m almost ready here with the mustard.

NICK:

[Sighs.] Still breathin’ real hard. Can see it in her flanks. Tried to make her cough, but she won’t.

DAN:

What’s that mean?

NICK:

She don’t wanna move her chest. Hurts too much.

DAN:

Well do you want me to mix together some more pain medicine?

NICK:

Yeah. . . . [Sighs.] I was hopin’ to see some improvement today, but . . . she’s still gettin’ worse.

JO:

Nick! . . . Where have you been?

NICK:

Uh, I had some things to do in town.

JO:

Oh, well, I missed you this morning. I thought we were going to have a reading lesson.

NICK:

Right. Sorry.

JO:

[Nods.] Well, perhaps we can do it tomorrow, then.

NICK:

I don’t think so. . . . I’m gonna be busy again.

JO:

[Softly.] Oh. Nick . . . if you don’t want to do this then just tell me.

NICK:

No, I do, it’s just, uh—

JO:

Because this really isn’t very important to me. I’m just doing this for you.

NICK:

I know. It’s just . . . [Shakes his head.] now’s not a good time.

JO:

I see. Well, if you want to give up, then that’s fine with me.

NICK:

I’m not givin’ up.

JO:

Really? Because it sure seems that way to me.

NICK:

[Sighs.] Fine. I’m givin’ up. That what you wanna hear?

JO:

Well at least you’re admitting it instead of hiding behind excuses.

NICK:

Don’t you ever get tired of being so high and mighty? Always gotta prove you’re right. Always gotta show everyone just how smart ya are.

JO:

This isn’t about me! Nick, I’m doing this for you!

NICK:

No! You’re tryin’ to make me into somethin’ you want me to be!

JO:

I’m not trying to make you into anything! I’m simply offering you the chance to better yourself!

NICK:

Well, I like myself just fine.

JO:

Really? Well then, fine. Don’t change. Don’t learn. . . . If you don’t feel the need to improve your life, then just keep doing what you’ve been doing, I guarantee you, you will always be the same!

JO:

Franz, have you seen Nick?

FRANZ:

He left a little while ago.

JO:

Where did he go?

FRANZ:

He wouldn’t tell me. Just said he had some things to do. . . . Dan went with him.

JO:

[Frowns slightly.] Dan? . . . But it’s a school day.

FRANZ:

I know.

DAN:

What if Penny’s worse this mornin’, Nick?

NICK:

Prob’ly best to put her down.

DAN:

Yeah, well . . . I’m sure Mrs. Jo’ll appreciate everything you’re doin’. . . . Uh . . . How’s the readin’ goin’?

NICK:

It’s not. . . . It ain’t for me. . . . Ah, I don’t know, maybe I shouldn’t be workin’ at Plumfield. Not too good for the school’s "image", you know?

DAN:

[Smiles.] Are you still thinkin’ of goin’ back to the sea someday?

NICK:

. . . Yeah, someday.

DAN:

Say, you were fifteen when you first went to sea?

NICK:

Yeah. Just a kid.

DAN:

I’m almost fifteen.

NICK:

[Turns to face Dan.] Dan, you get your schoolin’ finished before you go boardin’ any ships.

DAN:

But you didn’t. I mean, I like Plumfield, an’ all. Just lately I’ve been doin’ a lot of thinkin’. . . . I mean, all you really need from life is experience you pick up along the way, right? . . . Isn’t that the way it’s been with you?

FRANZ:

I was in town late yesterday . . . and I ran into Edna Gerson—who normally is the kindest, sweetest little old lady in town. But yesterday she was furious. . . . It seems she was accosted by three children fitting the description of students at this school.

FRANZ:

They said they were trying to help her, but in the process, they ruined her groceries, and nearly got her run over by a carriage. . . . Take a good look at this word. [Pointing to the blackboard.] Nowhere in its definition does it mention the words "selfishness" or "personal gain". It is not about competition or one-upmanship, but that is exactly what you have made it about. . . . I hope one day you will understand the true meaning of the word . . . ‘cause you sure don’t understand it now.

NICK:

[Sighs.] Whole chest is fillin’, now. . . . Getting worse.

DAN:

Isn’t there anything we can do?

NICK:

I don’t know. . . . Saw an army vet once stick a tube in a horse’s chest to drain fluid. Said he’d seen it work a few times. The time I saw him do it . . . it didn’t.

DAN:

Yeah—maybe we should at least try that . . . Maybe Dr. Cassidy knows how to do it.

NICK:

Better hurry, then. She don’t got much time.

WOMAN:

Yes?

NICK:

Is Dr. Cassidy here, ma’am? It’s urgent.

WOMAN:

No, I’m afraid he went to Boston for the week.

DAN:

Ma’am? We need to know about a procedure to help drain a horse’s chest. Now, does the doctor have any books or—anything we can look through?

WOMAN:

[Ushers them in.] Come in.

DAN:

[Haltingly.] "It is also possible, although rarely successful, and therefore not… recommended, to puncture, near the bottom of the chest with a, a small… trocar and… cannula — and let the fluid out of the chest." . . . It gives instructions how to do it.

NICK:

[Turns to the woman.] "Trocar and cannula"?

WOMAN:

In the case. I’ll get them for you.

FRANZ:

They’re still not back?

JO:

No.

FRANZ:

Well, I'm sure there's still a good reason for their absence.

JO:

It's not so much that they're gone that worries me. It's whether or not they're coming back.

DAN:

It says you can drain as many as three buckets of fluid.

NICK:

All right, I’m ready.

DAN:

"Make the puncture at the bottom of the chest between the eighth and ninth rib." [Nick does as instructed.] "If the procedure is successful, improvement can be expected within one to three days, however . . . a complete recovery will take about a month."

NICK:

We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed, then.

DAN:

Yeah. . . . Well, it’s a good thing Dr. Cassidy has this book, huh?

NICK:

Good thing you're here to read it.

JO:

Dan.

JO:

Where were you?

DAN:

I was, uh . . . with Nick.

JO:

You were supposed to be in school.

DAN:

I know. It’s just that . . . Nick needed my help.

JO:

With what?

DAN:

Some things . . . in town.

JO:

In town? I was in town today. I didn’t see you there.

DAN:

Well, we made a lotta stops. Ah, we were movin’ around a lot.

JO:

[Nods.] Where is Nick?

JO:

Dan, please… Do not lie to me—where is Nick?

DAN:

Mrs. Jo, I . . . I can’t.

JO:

Why not?

DAN:

Please.

JO:

All right, then, off to bed with you. We’ll discuss this in the morning.

NAT:

Nick’s back!

JO:

Penny?

JO:

[Smiles broadly.] Penny! . . . Penny!

JO:

Penny. Penny! Oh, sweet girl. [She rubs Penny’s muzzle. Then, to Nick] What happened? You took her away and I thought that—

NICK:

Told ya she was a tough horse. Just figured she needed a little more time. She’s still pretty weak, but she’s definitely on the mend. [He reaches into the bag he’s holding.] Oh. Don’t wanna forget. Got somethin’ for ya.

JO:

Did you make this yourself?

NICK:

Ah . . . [Points to Dan.] Dan helped me with the letters.

NICK:

[Takes the plaque.] I’ll put it up above her stall.

JO:

Thank you.

FRANZ:

[To the children.] Now, you understand.

DAN:

[Reads haltingly.] "Immediately, one of those—long—t-ten—"

NAT:

"Tentacles."

DAN:

Oh, tentacles. Thanks, Nat. Uh, " . . . tentacles came sliding through the opening like a serpent while twenty others flailed about overhead." Heh. "With one blow from his ax, Captain Nemo cut through the… the formidable tentacle which slithered squirmin’ down steps."

JO:

Goodnight, Penny. Goodnight, girl.

JO:

[To Penny.] Sweet dreams.